- The first-ever live finale of a Hot Wheels Legends Tour in New Zealand will take place this Sunday.
- Ten finalists will line up for the chance to eventually see their car immortalised in 1:64 scale.
- The event takes place in the basement carpark of The Warehouse Albany from 8am on Sunday the 30th.
In a massive first for Kiwi Hot Wheels fans, New Zealand will host its first-ever live finale of a Hot Wheels Legends Tour on Sunday, August 30, between 8:00 AM and 2:00 PM in Auckland at The Warehouse Albany Underground Carpark.
Toymaker Mattel says the free public event is set to be "a massive celebration of car culture" and will feature hundreds of unique builds and popular local vehicles on display, along with a live DJ and dedicated photo opportunities for families and fans.
Following an "overwhelming response" from local automotive enthusiasts and builders, Mattel recently announced that ten Kiwi builders have been selected as finalists, each vying for the ultimate automotive honour of having their unique, real-life custom build transformed into a 1:64 scale Hot Wheels die-cast car and sold to fans all over the world.
Attendees at the Auckland event will get a front-row seat to the live judging process as finalists' vehicles are assessed by an all-star panel including international drifting icon 'Mad Mike' Whiddett and car enthusiast and RX-7 builder Brad Wright, with a special virtual appearance from Jimmy Liu, the Hot Wheels and Matchbox Director of Product Design.
"When we're assessing these builds, we're looking for three things," said Liu. "Creativity, the innovation and vision each builder brings; Authenticity, the genuine passion behind the project; and Garage Spirit, that raw dedication and obsession that defines real car culture.
"Each one of these finalists has these key ingredients, and it's going to make selecting a winner super tough."
The builder crowned as the New Zealand champion on August 30th will represent New Zealand at the Asia-Pacific (APAC) Regional Final, which will take place virtually. The APAC champion will then advance to the Global Grand Finale in November, where they will compete against regional winners from around the globe.
While ten finalists are in the running, the company has highlighted five standout builds and their creators ahead of the big day, including a classic 1969 Rambler Rebel, a historic 1931 Ford Model A, a high-performance 1993 Mitsubishi Evolution 1, a modern 2013 Range Rover Sport, and a unique 2025 scratch built machine.
"It’s an absolute honour to be part of the New Zealand leg of the Hot Wheels Legends Tour as a judge, and I’m excited to be doing it alongside the bro and absolute legend himself, Mad Mike," said Brad Wright aka @b_rad_az.
"It’ll be tough to pick a winner from the incredible builds that have made it to the finale. As someone who knows all too well about the late nights spent in the garage, I know the passion and dedication that it takes to go into building a car that really stands out. I can’t wait to see what everyone brings to the finale!"
More details about the event, including venue specifics, can be found online at the official Mattel Hot Wheels Legends Tour website at https://mattel.com/hotwheelslegendstour.
